Hollow-shaft collector-lead support



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,706 I T. s.scoT'r HOLLOW SHAFT com flcmok LEAD s'uPP oRT" Filed April so, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 6 YThomasJScozz.

Sept. 11, 1928. v 1,683,706

1'. s. sco'n' HOLLOW SHAFT COLLECTOR LEAD 'surlonw Filed April 30, 1926 2-$heets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Thomas 8 Scot t.

- ATTOI'QNEY Patented Sept. 11,1928.

UNITED STATES T NT B rnes.

THOMAS S. SCOTT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &, MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 'A EGBEORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. V

HOLLOW-SHAFT COLLECTOR-LEAD SUPPORT.

Application filed April BO, 1926. Serial No. 105,782.

My inventionrelates to the supporting means for connectingthe leads of hollowshaft'motors to the terminal conductors of slip rings. v r

In large induction-motor loconiotives, the space between the wheels is so limitedthat it has become the usual practice to place the rotor slip rings on an overhanging stud of the shaft outside of the bearing atone or both ends of the 1nachine, the leads being brought out through a perforation in the shaft. In suh structures, the whipping or. vibration of the overhanging shaft-end has resulted in more or less frequent breakingsof the collector leads, resulting in the adoption of many different expedients in various attempts to utilize flexible leads which will stand vibrations, or to successfully .clampthe leads in a manner which will avoid vibration.

After n'iany unsuccessful attempts to insulatingly clamp the hollow-shaft leads to prevent breakage either of the leads or of the holds including an attempt to utilize insulated pin members such as are common in brushholder supports, I have developed a mounting whereby the electrical and mechanical requirements are met.

In brief, my invention comprises a rigid radial"terminal connector, which is "insulatingiy clainped to the end face of the collectorring support, and whichperforms the double function of an electrical connector and a rigidmechanical support for holding the hollow-shaft leads against vibration with respect to the shaft-end. i

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein p Fl 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevation of the slip-ring end of a motor embody ing my invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the end of the shaft having the slip-rings and my new connector for the leads,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-1110f Fig. 2, showing the clamp for securing the terminal connector of my invention, and v i e i Fig. 4 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, with the gum removed from around the radial terminal connectors V My invention is shown as being applied to an induction motor 1, which is adapted for driving a railway locomotive, and which cliimpin member The ends of comprises a rotor member 2, a stator member 3 and two bearings 4. Connection s made with the locomotive driven wheels (not shown), by means of a pinion 5 which is mounted on an overhanging end of the motor shaft 6, said overhanging endextending beyond the adjacent bearing 4:. The overhanging shaft-end carries, at its extreme end, a slip-ring supporting'spider 7 which is surrounded with insulation upon which aplurality of slip-rings 8 aresupported. As shown in Fig. 2, aplurahty of longitudinally extending slip-ring conductorsj) are pro vided to carry the current from the several y I slip rings to the end of the slip-ring spider,

as is usualin the art. 1 p

The motor shaft 6 is hollow to accommodate the rotor terminal leads, which are flexible conductors 10 extending through the hollow shaft. ln-order to provide a rigid support for the rotor terminal leads 10, a special steel teri'ninal support 14: is press-fittedinto the collector-ring spider to provide anannular flange 15 having a plane outer surface -16to. which are clamped a plurality of my.

special terminal connectors 17 of rigid construction, which are n iade of a suitablec0nprovide inner and outerrigid supports 22 and 23, to which are clamped the rotor terminal leads 10 and the slip-ring terminal conductors 9, respectively. The small inaccessible space in the corners of the slip-ring spider 7 adjacent tothe slip-ring terminal conductors 9' and the terminal connectors 17, are filled with an asphaltunrgum 25, and the outer ends of the slip'ring terminal cou flair tow mixed with shellac and varnish, which is baked'to provide a hard structure.

By virtue of the broad, flat, clamped connection between the massive radially extending terminal connectors 17 and the annular face 16 of the steel terminal support 14, a

i ductors 9 and the terminal connectors or sup} vports 17 are'then coated with a packing 26 of current-collecting device 2. The combination with conductors 9 which are connected to the several slip rings 8 at the periphery of the slipring supporting spider.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a hollow shaftend subject to vibration, of a plurality of electric conductor leads therein, a currentcollectin device mounted on said shaft end,

a "plural ty ofsep'arate radially extending insulated terminal connectors, supporting means engaging said connectors at'interme (hate po nts between the ends thereof for rigidly supporting the same with respect to said shaft-end, means for joining the inner endsof said terminalconnectors to said leads,

said terminal connectors being more rigid than said conductor leads whereby they per form the doublefunction of a con duetive connection and a rigid support for holding said leads against vibration with respect to said "shaft-end, and means for connecting the outer ends of said terminal connectors to said i I a hollow shaft, of relatively flexible electric conductor leads therein, a current-collecting device mounton said hollow shaft adjacent to the end thereof, said current-collecting devicemounting comprising an end face, a plurality of; separate, relatively rigid, radially eX tending, terminal connectors insulatingly clamped, at intermediate points'betwecn their ends, to said end face, means forjoining the innerends of said terminal connectors to said leads, and means for connecting the outer ends of said terminal connectors to said cur rent-collecting device.

' 3. An alternating-current motor comprising a stator member provided with bearings, a rotor member provided witli'a hollow shaft extending through one of said bearings, rotor terminal leads in said hollow shaft, a slipring supporting member on the extension. of said hollow shaft outside of said bearing,

slip-rings insulatinglysupported on said supporting member, slip-ring conductors extending from said slip-rings to the end of said supporting member, rigid terminal connectors insulatingly clamped to the end face of said supporting member, and means for oining said slip-ring conductors and said rotor terminal leads to the respective ends of said rigid terminal conductors whereby sait slip-ring conductors are rigidly supported adjacent the places where they leave the slipring supporting member and whereby said rotor terminal leads are rigidly supported adj acent the places where they leave the hollow shaft.

at. An alternatin -ciufrent motor com rising a' stator member provided Wit 1 bearings, a rotor member provided with a hollow shaft extend ng through one of said bearings, ro-

tor terminal leads in said hollow shaft, a slipring supporting member on the extension of said hollow shaft outside of said bearing slip-rings insulatingly supported on salt supporting member, slip-ring conductors extending from said slip-rings to the end of said supporting member, and rigid terminal connectors insulatingly clamped to the end face of'said supporting 'IIIGlIIbQQVOELCh rigid terminal connector comprising an insulated radial portion clamped to the end face of the slip ring mounting, and two outv-rardly bent tends joined to a slip-ring conductor and a rotor terminal lead, respectively.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1 th day of April, 1926.

THOMAS S. SCOTT 

